JUNE. 3, I91’ flre Macoun

Garden . Opens June 6 By The Prime Minister

A Descripfiffn of The Garden And A Re ' of ’i‘he Life The [rate Dr. W. J. Macoirilfw Dominion Horticulturist.

Memorial

um commemorate in B11 9rPD!'0l>-

ge and lasting form the life and work of the late Dr‘. W. T. Macoun, Dominion Izlortlculturfst. Experi- mental l=‘a.rms, mlnlon Depart- ment ior1933 a memorial garden is aw!!! “ ' to be opened on June 8th by Rt. Hon w_ I1. Mackenzie King. Prime manger, at the Central Experi- mental Rirm. Ottawa, on the site of Dr, Mac0un's former home. It is ,0 be known as the Macoun Mem- orial Garden. .

The first suggestion tor a. suit- me mem0l'llll to Dr. Macoun was made at the annual meeting of the canadian Horticultural Council in 19:44 at which time a special com- mittee was appointed to consider in what manner and by what means W5 ob_icCii\'e could best, be achiev- ed, Tire recomrricndation cf the committee was that a memorial garden Le coiistructfid and devel- oped its part of the ornamental grounds of the Central Experiment- Ii Farm rind tiiat the money nec- gsgary for its development be ob- mned by suircriptions from horti- cultural societies. business and gmer orgniiizations and individ- uals tinrougiioiit Canada. who knew and tlmll't‘(‘,il.»(‘d the great and var- ied contributions of Dr. Macoun to economic and ornamental horticul- ture. This recommendation was ac- oepled by the Council and a com- paign Wits organized to obtain sub- firipilolls to pay for a sundlal.

About that time it had been de-

titled to dcinolish the house at the central Experimental Farni, which for many years had been Dr. Ma- caun's home. After consideration the ground, which thus was left vacant, and the area that had com- prised the private grounds sur- rounding the house, including the perennial border, which was Dr. Macoun’: personal care and pride. was chosen as the most fitting site upon which to develop the mem- orial garden. After the necessary Itlihorily had been obtained, con- structlon was commenced in 1935 and such progress has been made that now the garden presents a good idea of what it will be when in a few years the great variety of lowering plants and shrubs have reached their full beauty and mat- urity. While the design of-the garden is symmetrical and the planting of the lower level is formal, the upper level, with the exception of the group of l‘\'(‘1‘Kl‘eens at the entrance and around the sundial. is arrang- ed with sufficient informality to blend into the rest of the grounds and relieve the feeling of archi- tecturol severity which would have been so remote from Dr. Nllaeounb ideas of a garden, '

The garden contians many of the varieties or lilacs, roses, omament- ai crabapples and lilies originated at the Central Ebrpertmental Farm during the life time of the late Dominion Horticulturist, as well as Ieveral shrubs and perennials which. while not riire, do not, occur on ‘W Darts or the grounds.

The stone used throughut is No- pean sandstone. The pool La finished With rreen “ooloicreto" to give the impression of depth and added re. flectlon to the water. It will be planted with waterlllies and other aquatic plants.

Th°“5’h the garden may be enter- ed from the sides for the sake of convenience, the best view in ob. ‘*1-“°d by entering from the west end. From here one looks down the lone axis which is always the most attractive view in a garden of’ symmetrical design. One‘; eye nae. urally travels along the oentfgl fig‘ stone path. down the steps so the Sunken portion of the garden with “Z5 10113 D001 in the centre, and up the steps at the far end until it reaches the memorial sundial which stands in the centre of a. flagswne. paved circle flanked by curved white benches backed by a group of evergreens,

The central sunken portion or the garden is composed largely of 8 Crass panel surrounding a flag- stnne-miamed pool in which are two bronze frogs as fountain fig- ures, and which is sparsely planted with aquatic plants in such a way 3-‘ *0 1111017! Open water surfaces for reflection.

Around the base of the sandstone retaining wall, which separatm the W70 1eV€1-9. is a wide border of tul- ipa which has the central point in the sides marked by a 8‘l‘0l1p of low €V€1'8reens and Azalea mollis. Later the tulips will be followed by dark blue Vi01Bs and light blue ageratum. [The central points will be marked [by masses of Princeps lilies.

A narrow border or the new dwarf blue Michaelmas daisy "Vic- tor” skirts the trap of the wall, and is separated by a wide grass path from a mixed perennial border which contains many of Dr. Ma- ccun'a favourite flowers. This hot- der has a background of massed shrubs which eventually will shut off the View of the formal inter- ior from its informal surroundings.

A broad, winding grass path sur- rounds the shrubbery and separ- ates it from a wide perennial bor- der, the eastern portion of which is the old border planted and car- ed for so many years by Dr. Ma- coun himself. Through this border and its background of cedar hedge run two grass paths, one into the rock path, the other to the lesser lilac walk connecting the Memorial Garden with the omnnimtal plots.

On the upper level at the east end of the garden stands the sun- dial. The pedestal and ornaments were designed by Arthur Kellett, artist, Horticultural Division, Cent- ral Eirperirnental Farm. The ped- estal is a hexagonal block of dress- ed sandstone slightly tapering to- wards the top. The six lower faces are embellished with bronze Oma- ments, the motifs of which are the lily and the iris, modelled in re- lief, the two designs alternating on the six faces. The six upper faces are provided with bronze tablets, five of which bear inscriptions re- latlng to Dr. Macoun, while the

sixth records that the aundial was erected by public subscription.

The garden was designed by R. Warren Oliver of Ottawa, und- scape Architect, at present con- nected with the Horticultural Div- ision.

Already something of the very soul and spirit of the man, which the garden commemorates, aeema to have become attached to it. His love of gardens and flowers, of all that embraced horticulture, was no acquired thing with him but deep and abiding.

During his life time Dr. Macoun had a legion oi.’ steadfast friends. for the quiet dignity and refine- ment of the man and his natural gentlemanliness was impelling. There was no unkindness or harsh- ness in him. He never spoke de- Drecifltingly of anyone. His associa- tion with noture softened his whole outlook on life.

01"-en as a boy he accompanied his father on expeditions in the cause of botany and these stirred and stimulated the deep affection he had for his life's work. Brought up in such an atmosphere, guided by a father with a. passionate in- terest of his calling and encourag- ed by his brother, James, who, too, became a notable botanist, William Macoun had no difilculty in decid- ing his life's vocation. At the age of 21 he was appointed to the staff of the Central Experimental Farm as assistant to Dr. William Saund- ers, first Director of the Dominion Experimental Farms, who was a recognized horticulturist and plant breeder. The influence of that noble gentleman and savant, who at all times was gentle and considerate, served to develop the sterling char- acter ol young Macoun. There was .a. natural afllnlty between the old- er and the younger man, for there was in many respects a decided ‘similarity of character. In 1898, ten ‘years after his first appointment, William Macoun was appointed Horticulturist to the Central Ebr- perlmcntal Farm and Curator of the Arboretum and Botanic Ger- den there. Twelve years later he was appointed Dominion Horticul- turist. Before he died in 1914 Dr. William Saunders had abundant evidence he had selected the right man as first Dominion Horticultur- lst.

While many experiments with fruits, vegetables and ornamental plants have been conducted at the Experimental Farm, Ottawa, under Dr. Maccun‘s direction, his special personal attention was given to the breeding of fruits. Beginnlnx this work with the late Dr. Wm. Saunders he continuously sought to improve existing varieties, and many very promising new varieties. especially of apples, have resulted from his efforts. These include the Melba. Joyce, Hume, Lcbo, Linda and Lawfam varieties of apples. He also continued the work begun by Dr. Saunders in breeding apples especially suitable for the Prairie Provinces, and at the Experimental Station, Morden, Manitoba, the best

bronI_0lI_I¢I|1l.t.|.*!'|.P‘.‘_‘_!'(i "

‘rho In.‘ um,“ gm“, g. g. 5. :1 the central’ lane on June «I 0; Hon. W. L. £1 chalio King P: In Iinlatcr of Canada. ‘flu above picturpc chow:

I. The late Dr. W. '1'. Icon, otainioa Hortlculturllt from 19.10 to 1 . In when memory

the memorial an inch commuted: I. View of the lloaiorlal or-don looking Cut in my n:dia1';hI. Clouds? of «radial! 4- Detail photograph of “ego of

THE 'cHAizLo'rrirrowiv GUARDIAN

collection of hardy apples in North America was brought together by him.

In an article by Geo. !. Ohipman filipe-sting in the Oountry Guide, Winnipex. 1n’December 1932 he stated:

"What is probably the world's greatest project in scientific apple breeding is now nearing comple- tion. It was inaugurated by the late Dr. William Saunders at the Cent- ral Experimental Farm, Ottawa. The object of his breeding project was high grade, standard size ap- ples which could be grown where the thcrmorntecr sometimes regist- ered 80 below zero in the winter. When Dr. Saunders passed away the apple breeding project contin- ued under the direction of Dr, Ma- coun at Ottawa. This fruit breed- ing prosram encompassed the ac- tlve ‘.I”e of txwo great fruit breed- ers, Dr. William Saunders and Dr. William T. Macoun. By the time another decade has passed the fruitage of their work will be avail- able yc those settlers on the Prair- ies for whom they laboured."

Dr. Macoun’; work was not con- flned to fruits for under his direc- tion many new and improved var- ieties of vegetables and flowers have been produced in the Horticul- tural Division at the Experimental Farm, Ottawa. Notable among these are Alacrity, Herald and Abel to- matoes; Early Malcom. Pickanlnny, Banting and Dorinny sweet corn; Ruby rhubarb; J. R. Booth chrys- anthemum; Prestonlae type of ill- acs and numerous others.

While his headquarters were at the Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, he supervised the horticul- tural conditions throughout the whole Dominion.

In 1923 he was awarded the Carter Gold Medal for the Ad- vancement of Horticulture by the Canadian Horticultural Council. and in 1924 was made a fellow of the Canadian Society of Technical Azriculturists. In 1929 he was awarded the degree of Doctor of science by Acadia University, Wolfville, N.S.. and in the same year was awarded the Silver Wilder Medal by the American Pomo1ogi- cal society, Roanoke, Virginia, for accomplishments in fruit. breeding and horticulture generally.

The following awards made to the Division of Horticulture, Cent- ral Experimental Farm, Ottawa, during Dr. Macoun's term of of- fice serve to indicate the value of his work and the extent to which it was recognized in other count- rles:

Silver Wilder Medal, for Hybrid Apples and selected Seedlings- American_ Pomological society, Nor- folk, Virglnia, 1901.

Silver Wilder Medal for North- ern Qrown Fruit including Hybrid Apples——American Pomological So-

ciety, St. Catharines, Ontario, 1909. Silver Wilder Medal for New

Varieties of Hardy Apples—-Ameri- can Pomological Society, Washing- ton, D.C., I913.

silver Wilder Medal for Collec- tion of Seedling Apples—Ame:ricen Pomolcgfcai Society, Boston, Mass., 1917.

silver Wilder Medal for collec- tion of New and Promising winter Apple.9—American Pomologlcal So- ciety, oolumbus, Ohio, 1920.

Silver Wilder Medal for Lobo Ap ples—Amerlcan Pomological So- ciety. New York, 1923.

silver Wilder Medal for Melba Apple——Amerlcan Pomolcgical So- ciety. Louisville, Kentucky, 1921.

Diploma de Medhaille d'or for Melba Apples at the International Exposi’/in of I-Iorticulture, Brus- sels, 1927.

Dipiome de Cvraride Medaille de Vermeil for Collection of New Var- ieties of Apples from the National Society of France. Paris, 1927.

During his life time he served many organizations on this contin- ent. The following are some of the principal offices held by him:

American Pomologlcal society- Vlce President, l9l5-1924.

American society for Horticultur- al Bclence—-President 1912: vice President, l910.~l9l'l, 1913: Member 0 fthe Executive 1013, 1914, 1917.

Potato Association of America—— Vice Pruident, 1917-1919.

society for I-lorttcultural science- President 1922.

Ontario Fruit Growers‘ Associa- tinn-Director.

Qudaec Pomological society-Life Mernber (I-Ioricurary) 1901,.

Nova scctia Fruit Growers‘ As- aociation—l>l’onourary r. 1899- 1927.

Ottawa Field Naturalists‘ club- President 1903-6.

Ottawa Horticultural society.

' . President 1399; ex-omclo Member of

Board of I‘/rectors 19%-1903.

Royal Horticultural Society- Memher 1909-1033.

American Association for the Advancement of 8cience—Member 1013-1933.

Canadian society of Technical Agr‘ uurJb§—Me!hbCl I91)-19337 Vice President 1929: Pros-idflnt 1930-

Federal District Commission-— Commissioner 1920-1983.

Canadian Hortlculi/ural Council- Chairman. Registration committee. 1912-W33.

Civic Tree commlttot. Oity of Ottawa-—‘Member.

official correspondent for oanaaa to the Imperial Bureau of Fruit Production. mo-ma.

The numerous fruits. flower: and vegetables originated by Dr. Ma- coun will live for generations. He has a‘ao left at the experimental station at Mordca. Manitoba, the greatest collection of hardy plant- W llltfil I Alifhls 5'“

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Great Plains section of Americanl

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smun‘ and uboretum at the cen- tral Experimental Farm, mtawa. and the beautiful grounds of many other public institutions in various parts of Ca.na.d.a bear eloquent tri- bute to his public spirit and ability as a hortlculturist and landscape architect.

The work that Dr. Macoun de- Veioped is being ably carried on by his successor and former colleague, Malcolm 13. Davis, the present Do-f ininion Horticulturist. ‘

Annual‘ Meeting Lot 65 G.W.L.

» L

.

x

will Again Operate Pilgrimage To Ste. Anne tie Beaupre

(special to the Guardian)

, NB, June 2-—The annual pilzrimage from the Mari- time Provinces to Ste. Anne de Beauprie will again be operated this year.

Pilgrims from Nova sootia will be under the direction of Rev.

olic Women's League of St. Ann's,

ed the meeting by prayer. prayer, the minutes of the previous meeting were read and adopted. The Prsident. Mrs. J. J. Murray gave an excellent report of the year's work. The treasurer, Mrs. F. .1. Trainer gave her report, which was very satisfactory.

The Chaplain then addressed the meeting. He spoke in compliment- ary terms of the good work achiev- ed by the League during the past year, and also of the unity and good will which existed among the members.